Page 172 of State of Affairs (First Family 1)

“See how it’s the same as it was at home?” Sam asked. “We put our kids to bed and run off and hide from the world by ourselves. Only here, if we want midnight snacks, we only have to make a call. That doesn’t suck.”

“The staff is amazing. The food is amazing. The movie theater, the bowling alley… All of it.”

“The kids are so excited, I was afraid they wouldn’t be able to sleep.”

“Haven’t heard a peep out of them,” he said, gesturing to the monitor on the bedside table.

“That’s good.” Sam stretched and then pulled her sweater over her head and dropped it on the floor. “Moving is so exhausting, even when I didn’t have to do anything.”

“Come here and let me rub all your sore muscles from watching other people move us.”

“I love how you get me. Hold that thought for one minute.” She went into the adjoining bathroom, where her toothbrush had been laid out on a silver tray. The staff took care of every detail, right down to her favorite shampoo and the lavender-and-vanilla-scented lotion she preferred. Despite her significant reservations about being first lady, she could definitely get used to the lifestyle that went with it.

“Sam, our interview is on,” Nick said from the bedroom.

She donned a robe with the White House crest that she’d found in the larger-than-expected closet and went to join him. “Jeez,” she said after a quick glance at the TV. “I look like a deer caught in headlights.”

“We both do. The shock was still fresh then.”

“It’s still fresh now.”

They shared a laugh as she cuddled up to him in bed to watch themselves on national TV, something that would never become routine, or so she hoped.

“I sound so stupid,” she said.

“No, you don’t.”

“You look hot.”

“Shut up.”

“What? You do.”

“Shut up.”

“Shut me up.”

“With pleasure.” He rolled toward her, wrapped his arms around her and kissed her until she shut up.

“I bet White House sex is extra hot. You want to find out?”

He nuzzled her neck and left a trail of kisses. “Uh-huh.”

“You think this old bed creaks when it gets a good workout?”

“Probably.”

“Wanna find out?”

“You’re supposed to be shutting up.”

“See?” She smiled up at him as he gazed down at her with those incredible eyes of his. “Same marriage, different house.”

“Thank God for that. Now what do you say we get busy christening this place?”

“I say fill her, buster.”

Laughing, he kissed her, and as he made love to her, they found out the old bed did, in fact, creak when it got a good workout.

---